Developing tools to analyze spatial gene expression in tissues
Official title: Computational methods for in situ spatial transcriptomics
Funded at Duke University · NIH-10936632 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working on new computer tools to help scientists see where RNA is located in tissues, which can improve how we understand different cell types and their interactions, especially in health and disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Duke University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $363,384 |
| NIH project number | 1R35GM154865-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10936632 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with conditions that involve complex tissue architecture and cellular interactions, such as cancer or degenerative diseases.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with conditions that do not involve significant cellular or tissue complexity may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on creating advanced computational tools to analyze in situ spatial transcriptomics, which captures the precise locations of RNA transcripts within tissues. By integrating imaging data with RNA spatial information, the project aims to improve the identification of cell boundaries and types, as well as their interactions within the tissue microenvironment. The researchers will generate a benchmarking dataset to evaluate the effectiveness of these tools across various tissues and disease conditions, ultimately enhancing our understanding of cellular behavior in health and disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more accurate diagnoses and targeted therapies by providing deeper insights into cellular interactions and gene expression patterns in tissues.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise in using computational methods for analyzing spatial transcriptomics, indicating that this approach has potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
Duke University
Durham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ji, Zhicheng — Duke University
- Study coordinator: Ji, Zhicheng
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.